The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-06-30
AROUND WILLIAMSBURG.

Mcclellan occupied Yorktown and estab-
hshed his headquarters near there. He sent
his cavalry, with artillery, under Stoneman.
May 4, to pursue Johnston Stoneman
caught up with Stuart's cavalry near the
Halfway house. Here was a line of Con-
federate works waiting for him. In front Of
him was large redoubt of earthworks called
Fort Magruder. There was some skirmish-
ing, then StoneInan retreated to wait the ar
rival Of infantry to cooperate with him. As
he did so he left his own cannon behind him
ingloriously stuck in the mud
May Hooker had marched with the in
fantry by shorter road on the right to join
Stoneman. Gen. w. f. Smith followed by
the Lees Mill road on the left. After him
moved COUGHS and Casey's divisions. Kear-
ney's followed Hooker on the right Sum
ner's corps followed next day. Franklin's
and Fitz John Porter's divisions were to be
sent up the York river from Yorktown bv
water. Gen. Mcclellan stayed till the last at
Yorktown.
The Federal troops engaged in the fight at
Williamsburg were Rockers and Smiths di-
visions and Kearney's divisions, besides part
of COUGHS. On the Confederate side Long
street commanded.
Hooker fulfilled his orders to the letter. At
daybreak, May 5, he came in sight of VIII
liamsburg. Knowing that plenty of re-
endorsements were behind him. he attacked
at once with his 1900 men All the while the
plan OF the Confederates was to retreat
slowly toward Richmond, keeping a strong
rear guard back of them till they could place
the Chickahominy between themselves and
the enemy. 1t was mastery movement.
1t was this strong rear guard which began
the battle of Williamsburg, though re-en-
forcements from the front speedily were sent
back.
Hooker, fighting holly at the 'front.' sent re-
peatedly to the commanding officer for help
But the simple fact is there was no COM
manding officer. a conflict of authority
arose between Sumner and Heintzelman, who
disliked each other. So nothing was done TO
relieve Hooker.
a month. Artillery wheels sank to the center
in the mud but Fighting Joe Hooker" kept
until night ON the ground that had been
abandoned.
Not paying any attention to Hooker, who
was fighting on the Federal left, Summer de-
cided to make n1ovemsnt on the right. A
Confederate redoubt on Cub Dam creek, east
of Fort Magruder, was reported empty.
Sumner ordered Gen. Winfield Scott Han
cock to go and take possession of it. He did
so, and likewise took possession of another
earthwork in advance OF it. He wished to
take a third one, still nearer Fort Magruder,
anu Repeatedly SEM Te-cA1OICSInOAJS "
enable him to do SO. Sumner twice ordered
them to go to his aid and twice counter
manded the order. Hancock sent again ur-
gently, and that time Summer ordered him t.
fall back Thus Hancock got no more sup
port than Hooker did. 1t seemed, somehow,
to be battle without head.
Hancock was extremely loath to obey such
an order, knowing the advantage that might
be gained. He determined to obey as slowly
as possible. Meantime the enemy poured in
upon him. He began retreating slowly before
them. Suddenly he turned on them and opened
a terrific musket fire As the smoke from
that cleared away somewhat he shouted to
his men: Snow, gentlemen, the bayonet.
His soldiers made a tremendous bayonet
charge That decided the day. The Confed-
crates broke and fed. They lost on that part
of the battlefield alone 500. Hancock was
superb" Gen. Mcclellan telegraphed next
day.
So Hooker and Kearney on the left and
Hancock on the right saved the day at VIII
hamsburg May 5, 1862.
But the Confederates got off and continued
| their retreat toward Richmond, just as they
had intended. Next day the pursuing army
captured few of their guns, which had
mired in the mud and been abandoned.
| That, with some stray prisoners, was the sum
| total of the Federal spoAs of war after this
| battle. The Union forces lost z, 222S in killed
and wounded, the Confederates 1850.
| Gen. Mcclellan was not on the field till neal
| o'clock in the afternoon. He was at York
town experimenting the removal of the
| forces that were to go up the York by water,
| Word was sent to him at 1 o'clock that the
battle was on, and hotly, and urging him tC
| go to the front. He answered simply, q
think they can take care of that little matter.
| In his book-McClellans own book-he says:
"Could have arrived at o'clock, it is very
certain that Smith, supported by Couch and
| Rfterward by Casey, would at once have de
bouched from Hancock's ground and have cut
OF the retreat of the greater part of tbs
| troops engaged against Hooker"